INTERNATIONAL RULES:SEVERAL MEN who contested the All-Ireland final last Sunday, like Kieran Donaghy and Stephen Cluxton, will have received calls, or are about to, from the International Rules management about joining up with the extended panel this weekend in Carton House.
The Brogans, Bernard and Alan, and several other Dublin players can also expect expressions of interest, although for many it will become a straight choice between club and country due to the backlog of fixtures in the capital.
Ireland head coach Anthony Tohill will need to trim his training panel next week to ensure visas can be arranged before travelling to Australia next month for the two-Test series.
Tohill is only permitted to bring a 23-man squad, but the loss of Mayo’s Andy Moran and Tyrone’s Seán Cavanagh to injury may well be covered by fresh recruits from Dublin and Kerry.
There is also the possibility of Kerry’s AFL-based players Tadhg Kennelly, who recently announced his retirement after 10 seasons with the Sydney Swans, and Tommy Walsh being called in.
Walsh has already returned from St Kilda and is primed to play for Kerins O’Rahillys against An Ghaeltacht (and the three Ó Sé brothers) this weekend.
The management has also not ruled out Carlton Blues’ Setanta Ó hAilpín and Zach Tuohy being selected.
“No one has said ‘no’ to us yet anyway,” said Ireland selector and Wicklow native Kevin O’Brien.
Tall, powerful yet athletic footballers seem like the ideal candidates as Ireland attempt to address the deficiencies that saw them come up short in last year’s home series.
“Last year in the first Test we dwelled too much on the mark, let the pace settle and allowed them get back and organised,” O’Brien continued. “In the second game we played a little more, fast Gaelic football. That might be the way forward.”
Several players who have impressed at recent trials include Donegal trio Michael Murphy, Neil McGee and Karl Lacey. Cork’s dual pair of Eoin Cadogan and Aidan Walsh are also strong contenders to tour.
Carlow midfielder Brendan Murphy, who had trials with the Swans two years ago, and Kildare’s Tomás O’Connor are others reportedly going well at present.
Armagh’s Steven McDonnell was Ireland captain last year and remains in contention to make the 23-man cut.
Former Ireland captain Kieran McGeeney is a new addition to the management alongside Tohill, O’Brien, Eoin Liston and Seán Óg de Paor.
“Kieran was a fantastic captain and a fantastic player for Ireland and is just as good a coach. We are thrilled to have him,” said O’Brien.
Meanwhile, Waterford’s Eoin Murphy has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling.
The Knockanure Shamrocks man suffered a skull fracture while on club duty in April, and will continue to line out for his club, but has called time on an 11-year career with Waterford.
“I’m 100 per cent happy to hang up my boots at intercounty level,” Murphy said. “I’m looking forward to spending a few years with the club.”
